Home-school students chart their own course: Letters

Jack Truehart, 6, is home schooled. His parents are happy with their choice so far finding that he is learning more than their friends in traditional school. The flexibility works for the family and they are seeking groups to socialize with such as this group which meets in El Dorado Park weekly. (Photo by Brittany Murray/Press Telegram)

I was glad to read an article on home schooling, but disappointed by the limited research that led to a wrong conclusion about the opportunities available to home-school graduates.

As a home-schooling mom of 16 years, I know from experience that top schools, including the University of California, are not impenetrable. My son entered UCLA with a scholarship as a freshman and knows many others who did likewise. Our friends have also accepted freshman admission to UC Irvine, Berkeley, Stanford and MIT, to name a few.

Many do not wish to attend these schools, but it is not because they cannot. High test scores are naturally helpful, but that is the case for students from any educational option who expect admission to a top school. UCLA encouraged our out-of-the-norm application and could not have been more accepting of my son’s home-school record.

Additionally, many students I know are successful entrepreneurs, accomplished musicians, Olympic-level athletes and inventors. The love of learning and the ability to maximize every minute of every day is the hallmark of homes schooling. It removes, rather than creates, barriers for students who embrace the flexibility of charting their own course.

— Sarah Hamilton, Long Beach

Hoping other states follow the lead, ban lead bullets

Re “Ban lead ammo for more humane state” (Editorial, Sept. 27):

I strongly support the signing by Gov. Jerry Brown of Assembly Bill 711, ending the use of lead ammunition. If passed, it will still take until 2019 for the bill to take effect, which seems like a long time. How many California condors, golden eagles, as well as other endangered animals and unidentified species have to die by these lead poisoning bullets?

Hunting with lead bullets not only kills endangered species but is detrimental to our environment as well. It is time to stop using lead bullets for sport shooting. Let our governor know that the passing of AB 711 will not only benefit California, but hopefully will inspire other states to do the same.

Perhaps there is good reason why the informed opinion makers find little to boast about and plenty to criticize about Sen. Ted Cruz’s soliloquy. Wendy Davis was standing up for women’s rights. Sen. Rand Paul was standing up for limitation on drone strikes. Sen. Bernie Sanders was standing up for tax fairness. Meanwhile, Cruz was attempting to scuttle universal healthcare.

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— Kevin Powell, Long Beach

Americans are giving away their health-care freedom

Health care is one of the most personal aspects in our life. In several months, American citizens will lose this precious right. They will then hand over this right to the federal government, who will now make important personal decisions on their behalf. It is inexplicable why the citizenry in a country founded on individualism would voluntarily relinquish part of that freedom.

President Obama said he would fundamentally change the direction of our country. Many warned, but apparently few believed, he would accomplish the unthinkable. He has returned us to the oppression we previously faced under the British monarchy.